Hood latch



l I l 1 l. kf r j Feb. 7, 1939. i D. P. HYNEs 2,146,187

Hoon LATCH original Filed Sept. 3, 1937 2 Sheets-sheet 1 .i434 T3 2 @j *V4 7 www ifa/@Wega '.Feb.7, 1939. DRHYES' W 2,146,187A

HOOD LATCH original Filed sept. z, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 @y-Mln Patented Feb. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFICE lHoon LATCH Dibrell P. Hynes, Evanston, Ill., assigner to Chicago Forging & Manufacturing Co., Chicago,

Ill., a corporation of Illinois Griginal application September 3, 1937, Serial No. 162,308. Divided and this application April 8, 1938, Serial No. 200,847

8 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in closing means rand latch securing means for automobile hoods.

One purpose is the provision of improved hood closing or latchng means applicable primarily for employment with hoods of the type in which the side panel is normally xed and a top panel or closure is moved downwardly against or above the upper edge of Athe side panel.

Another purpose is the provision of improved means ffor normally holding the side 'panel in position which permits its removal when desired.

Other objects will appear from time to time inthe course of the specication and claims.

- The present application is a division of my copendingapplication Serial No. 162,308, which was filed SeptemberB, 1937. i

I illustrate my 'invention more or less diagram- ,matically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an inside view illustrating the interior of a removable automobile hood closure panel; r i y g Figure 2 is a partial View of the same structure;

LFigure 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3- 3 of Figure 1; and Y Figure 4 is an enlarged section on the vline 4-4 of Figure 1.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specication and drawings.

rReferring to theA drawings, I generally indicates a normally fixed portion of the 'body of a Vehicle and 2 isa normally xed side panel member 'or automobile hood closure member which may abut or approach atits bottom the vehicle frame indicated at 3 and at its side abutments 4, 5 which may be part, for example, of the radiator frame or portions of the, chassis of the vehicle. v

v `6 generally indicates any suitable hinged upper closure member, the details of which do not form part of the present invention. It will be understood, however, that in general access to the interior of the hood rmay be obtained by raising or moving the top clesure 6 rather than the normally fixed side panel or closure 2. It may become necessary, however, to have access to Ythe side of the motor or the like and for that reason it is desirable to have the side panels removable. I illustrate, therefore, the rock shaft Il) which may be mounted on any suitable bearings, positioned upon any suitable reinforcing members I2 at opposite ends to the side panel 2.

I also provide a central base plate I3 formed with additional bearings I4 for the shaft l0. The shaft IIJ is provided at its ends with locking cranks or levers I5. Intermediate its ends and between the bearings I4 it has a crank offset I6 which may be surrounded by the eye I8 of the link I'I. The opposite end of the link may be turned or upset and may pass through the aperture I9 of the handle lever 20. It may be upset as at 2| in order to hold it in position and to prevent unintended escape.

The vhandle 20 is provided with a pivot 22 which passes through a bearing 23 formed in an upset portion 24 from the plate I3. 25 is any suitable Washer. The toe 26 of the handle 20 has its are of movement limited by stops 2'I and 28 formed in the plate I3, which in the present instance are so positioned as to limit the handle to an arc of about 90 degrees. The specific arc, however, as Well as the details of construction of the locking device, may be varied. g

When the handle 20 is in the locking position in which it is shown in Figure 1, over center, it rests against the stop 28 and is kept against the stop 28 by the iiexure of the shaft IU and its associated portions. When the handle is locked in such position, the locking end cranks yI5 engage any suitable internally positioned locking abutments 30 in a camming locking relationship such as is shown in Figure 3. They tend thereby to draw the lower edge of the panel downwardly as well as inwardly.

At the same time an upper hook 3l which may be secured to or may form part of a reinforcing member I2, has a lock portion 32 extending over an abutment 33 which is mounted in any suitable bracket or base portion 34. As shown in the drawings, the handle 20 is within the panel 2 and -is therefore concealed from the exterior. It does not provide ready means for moving the handle from the exterior, but when the top closure 6 has ben lifted the operator can readily grasp the upper end of the handle 2li and release the crank I5 andthe associated locking members. Any suitable means may be employed for securing the upper closure 6 in place and when it is secured in place the side panel 2 cannot be removed.

It will be understood that a wide variety of handles also may be employed, but the one illustrated is practical. Note also that the 'upper hook 3l, in its engagement with the abutment 33, has a wedging locking action as the panel 2 is drawn down by the locking cranks I5. The result is a very firm and rattle-proof positioning of the member 2 in place.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative detion to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to the precise structure herein described and shown. Y

I claim:

1. In closure means for automobiles and the like, a bodily movable side panel, means for holding it in generally upright position, and a lock-V ing connection between said panel and the automobile, including downwardlyr and inwardly inclined members associated directly with the panel,

abutments mounted on the automobile within the Y panel and adapted for engagement with said downwardly and inwardly inclined members, and means for moving said panel downwardly, whereby it is urged inwardly by the engagement of said downwardly and inwardly inclined projections Y with said abutments. Y

2, In closure means for` automobiles and the like, a bodily movable side panel, means for holding it in generally upright position, a locking connection between said panel and the automobile, including downwardly and inwardly inclined members associated directly with the panel, abutments mounted on the automobile within the panel and adapted for engagement with said downwardly and inwardly inclined members, and means for moving said panel downwardly, whereby `it is urged inwardly by the engagement of said downwardly and inwardly inclined projections with said abutments, including a rock shaft rotatably mounted on the inner face of said panel, locking cranks on said rock shaft, additional abutments within the panel and on the automobile,

opposed to said Vlocking cranks, and means for rotating said rock shaft.

3.,In closure means for automobiles and the like, a bodily movable side panel, means for holding it in generally uprightposition, a locking connection between said panel and the automobile, including downwardly and inwardlytinclined members'associated directly with the panel, abutments mounted on the automobile within the panel and adapted for engagement with said downwardly and inwardly inclined members, and means for moving said panel downwardly, whereby it is rurged inwardly by theY engagement of said downwardly and inwardly inclined projections with said abutments, including a rock shaft rotatably mounted on the inner facelof said panel, locking cranks on said rock shaft, additional abutments withinrthe panel and onthe automobile, opposed to said locking cranks, and means for rotating said rock shaft, including a handle positioned on the inner face of said panel and an actuating connection between said handle and rock shaft.

4. In closure means for Vautomobiles and the like, a bodily movable side panel, means for holding it in generally upright position, and a locking connection between said panel and the automobile, including downwardly -and inwardly inclined members associated directly with the panel, abutments mounted on the automobile within the panel and adapted for engagement with said downwardly and inwardly inclined members,

means for moving said panel downwardly, whereby it is urged inwardly by the engagement of said downwardly and inwardly inclined projections with said abutments, and an actuating handle therefor, positioned withinsaid panel.

5. In closure means for automobiles and the like, a bodily movable side panel, means forholding it in generally upright position, and a lock- 'ing connection between said panel and the autovmobile, including means interposedbetween the automobile and the panel adapted to bias the panel to downward and inward movement in response to downward movement of the panel, and additional means for imparting downward movement to the panel. k

6. In closure means for automobiles and the like, a bodily movable side panel, means for holding it in generally upright position, and a locking connection between said ypanel andthe automobile, including means Vinterposed between the automobile and thepanel adapted to bias Lthe panel to downward and inward movement in re-I spense to downward movement of the panel, andl additional ymeans for imparting downward movement to the panel, said additional means including an abutment onsaid automobile andra movable member mounted on said panel, said member being adapted, when moved, to draw the adjacent portion of the panel downwardly and inwardly in relation to the automobile, and means for imparting movement thereto.

7. In closure means for automobiles and the like, a bodily movable side panel, means for holding it in generally upright position, and a locking connection between an Vupper portion of said panel and the automobile, including means interposed between. the automobile andr the panel adapted to bias the panel to downward and in- Ward movement in response to downward movement'of the panel, and additional means for imparting downward movement to the panel,VV said additional meansincluding an abutment on said automobile and a movable member mounted on a lower portion of said-panel, said member being adapted, when moved, to draw the adjacent lower portion of the panel downwardly andinwardly in relation to the automobile, and means for imparting movement thereto. I Y Y Y Y 8,. In closure means for automobiles and the like, a bodily movable side panel, means for holding it in generally upright position, and a locking connection between an upper portion of saidV panel and the automobile, including means interposed between the automobile and the panel adapted to bias the panel tojdownward and inward movement in response to downward movement of the panel, and additional means for imparting downward movement to the panel, said.

additional means including an abutment on said automobile and a movable member mounted on a lower portion of said v IlarleL said member being adapted, when moved, to draw thea'djacent lower portion of the panel downwardly and inwardly in relation to the automobile, andmeans for imparting movement thereto, including a handle located on the inner face ofthe movable side panel. v n DIBRELL P. l-IYNES. 

